Hanging baskets can make your garden shine throughout the year – brighten up winter, spring and summer with vibrant bedding plants and perennials, and keep things interesting over winter with a selection of herbs, shrubs and evergreens. No matter what season it is, these colourful additions are sure to be a show-stopper!
Hanging baskets aren’t just for the summer months. With a little planning, you can enjoy splashes of colour and texture whatever the weather. For a stunning autumn display, try fiery-toned collections or late-blooming chrysanthemums to bring warmth to cooler days. In winter, hardy varieties like Violas, pansies, or trailing ivies keep the show going when most gardens are resting. Spring and summer, of course, are perfect for petunias, fuchsias, and trailing lobelia – but don’t overlook the charm of winter blooms or the subtle beauty of evergreens and seasonal herbs.
Our skilled team of plant specialists carefully select the perfect combination of bedding plants from our greenhouses and use top quality compost in each basket. Once planted up these creations are ‘grown on’ so they’re perfectly full when it comes time to display them outdoors from the end of May!
Whether you want a pre-planted basket ready for you or prefer creating your own masterpiece with a selection of empty baskets stocked and our top quality garden plants – we’ve got everything covered for those looking to add some vibrant colour into their outdoor space this season.
Wondering which pre-planted hanging baskets are the real show-stoppers for the season? Here are some customer favourites to inspire your summer garden revamp:
Loved for their unbeatable colour and long-lasting blooms, these cascading beauties are a firm favourite all summer long.
These classic cans of vibrancy deliver robust blooms in a variety of shades, perfect for making an instant impact.
Eye-catching and reliable, begonias bring full, lush growth and thrive in a variety of weather conditions.
Known for their elegant, trailing flowers, fuchsias are perfect for adding drama and movement to any outdoor space.
Whether you’re after a riot of colour or more subtle tones, there’s a pre planted basket waiting to elevate your porch, patio, or balcony—no green thumb required!
At Woolpit Nurseries, we take pride in our meticulously pre planted by hand hanging baskets that cater to every season. With over 2,500 hanging baskets nurtured annually, we’re dedicated to bringing vibrant beauty to your space.
Please note: the availability of all our plants and hanging baskets varies with the season and demand.
Looking to brighten up a shady corner? Not every hanging basket needs full sun to thrive. Many varieties are perfectly suited to shadier spots, bringing vibrant colour where sunlight is in short supply.
Some fantastic choices for these locations include Fuchsias, trailing Begonias, and specially selected mixed shade collections. These plants are naturally adapted to lower light and will add lushness and blooms to patios, balconies, or doorways that don’t get strong afternoon sun.
Just ask one of our team at Woolpit Nurseries and we can recommend beautiful options that will flourish—even in the shadiest parts of your outdoor space.
In summer, water every day – and in hot, dry spells you may need to water morning and evening. Hanging baskets dry out quickly, so little and often is best.
Yes, feed once a week with a liquid plant food to keep flowers blooming strongly all summer. Many baskets are planted with slow-release fertiliser, but extra feeding helps them thrive.
Most baskets love a sunny or part-sunny spot. If you’ve chosen shade-loving plants (like fuchsias or begonias), they’ll do better in a shadier position.
A quick guide on how to plant your own hanging basket.
1. When to plant
Summer hanging baskets should be planted from April on wards, and they will need to be protected from frost until the end of May. And winter hanging baskets should be planted in September October.
2. What you need before you can start
You can find most of these items at Woolpit Nurseries including a large selection of plants:
Hanging basket, Liner for the basket which may be fibrous or moss from the garden, Terracotta pot or bucket, Scissors, Multipurpose compost, A selection of suitable plants.
3. Choosing plants for your hanging basket
You can then choose plants and colour schemes to suit yourself from our a wide range of suitable plants from late April onwards.
For a 14″ basket, the Woolpit Nurseries team would recommend one upright plant for the centre surrounded by a mix of 4-6 trailing and semi-trailing plants. A mix of trailing and upright plants works well, with plants such as geraniums, begonias, petunias, fuchsias to name a few.
4. Line your basket
Place your basket in a pot or a bucket to keep it stable whilst you work. Then fit the liner inside the basket and then snip a few holes in it so that water can drain out. This also allows you to plant trailing plants around the sides through the liner.
5. Add the compost
Use top quality peat-free multipurpose compost such as Professional Peat Free Compost or Melcourt Sylvagrow Peat-Free Multipurpose Compost as stocked at Woolpit Nurseries. These peat free composts contain a variety of organic, sustainable ingredients as an alternative to peat. But if you plan to include winter flowering heathers, use ericaceous compost.
Half-fill the basket with multipurpose compost using the trowel. If you plan to go away, you can mix in moisture-absorbing granules or use moisture absorbing compost that can retain twice as much water as ordinary compost to help your basket stay moist.
6. Start planting the hanging baskets
Next position your plants in the basket. For a 14″ basket, the Woolpit Nurseries team would recommend one upright plant for the center to create structure and impact, surrounded by a mix of 4-6 trailing and semi-trailing plants. Or you may choose to plant the whole basket with a single plant type.
Once you are happy with the arrangement, then fill the basket with compost to the top, gently firm down and water.
7. Your basket is ready
Keep your basket in a sheltered spot until any danger of late frosts have passed generally late May. Then position your basket in a sunny sheltered spot. Feed and water regularly.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage new blooms.
Check moisture often, even after rainfall—dense foliage can shield compost from the rain, and wind quickly dries baskets out.
Feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser to keep plants strong and blooming.
With a little care and attention, your baskets will reward you with vibrant colour for months.
Water daily, feed weekly, and deadhead regularly to keep flowers coming.
Yes! Plant with hardy favourites like pansies, violas, ivy, and small evergreens for winter interest. Winter baskets don’t need as much watering as summer ones, but regular checks help keep them fresh and colourful through the colder months.
We look forward to helping you transform your garden with our premium plants and friendly service.
